Why Free Antivirus Alone is Not Enough

With time, Antivirus software have been improving a lot. Couple of years back, only few security software companies offered free antivirus protection but now more and more security companies are joining this league and we can download free antivirus from almost any security software company and use it freely to protect computer. However the question arises that is this free antivirus security solution enough to protect our data, computer files and our online activities or not? If you use only single free antivirus software in your computer, you are not protected and there are fair chances that your computer is infected with malware and spyware hidden deep down in system files and folders unnoticed by your free antivirus solution.

Windows comes with the ‘Security Essentials’ or ‘Windows Defender’ that can scan and remove most of viruses from computer. It is good but NOT good enough. It is not a solution for internet security. It only provides on-demand system scan and will skip few spywares or malwares that are disguised and can protect themselves against free security software solution. Furthermore if you download free or paid antivirus solution, that will disable Microsoft Security Essentials or Windows Defender.

Free Avira, Avast, AVG and many others software provide free system scanning and cleaning but these are also on-demand scanners and cleaners. These essentially do not scan thoroughly and these do not clean registry and these do not protect PC against internet security threats.

You need to get security alert before you browse any malicious website. You need to remove junk files from PC and fix bad entries from system registry. These functions are not provided in many free antivirus software. Free antivirus software do not provide secure banking and secure data transfer over the internet. Free security software also do not protect your computer when you test new software or play games.

You should check features of free antivirus before you install it and compare it with its paid versions.

I have been using Microsoft Windows Defender, free Avast, AVG and Avira but still I found infections in my PC. If you are using the same solutions then I advise you to scan your computer by using the following software:

CCleaner

Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

AdwCleaner

Junkware Removal Tool – JRT

Rogue Killer

TDSS Killer

SpyBot Search and Destroy

SpyBot S&D, CCleaner, AdwCleaner and Rogue Killer will find few hidden badwares in your computer even when you think that you are safe by using a free antivirus solution.

Free antivirus software only provides you SOME peace of mind by occasionally catching obvious virus but that is not a complete security solution. You should buy a complete internet security suite to protect PC or you should be ready to keep additional security tools (above mentioned) in hand to scan the system with these occasionally for complete protection.